Fair warning…this post may be boring enough to put you to sleep, but it is important.

With the arrival of AusCycling on the scene we have a situation where there are now effectively two peak bodies for cycling in Western Australia…both offering membership of South Perth Cycle Club. The way our constitution reads at the moment you can only actually be an ordinary member, and therefore able to vote on club issues or run for committee, if you sign up through AusCycling. We know that some members would prefer to sign up through WESTCYCLE, and in order for those members to have the same rights as AusCycling members we need to make a couple of small tweaks to the constitution.

Our plan is to amend rules 12.2 and 12.3, and to introduce a by-law to inform rule 12.3.1 which will make it easier to adjust access to membership if the peak bodies change again. We plan to make the necessary changes to the constitution at the upcoming AGM, so this post is notice of our intention to make the required changes.

Current constitution rules

12.2 The annual membership fee for all classes of membership shall be determined by the Committee. All members must pay their membership fees on joining or after that on the date fixed for payment in each year.

12.3 Membership of the Club shall consist of the following —
      12.3.1 Ordinary Member – any person that holds a licence under the governing body of cycling in Western Australia and is a financial member of the Club. If that person holds a licence and is a member of another cycling club then they cannot be considered as an ordinary member.
      12.3.2 Extraordinary Member – any persons other than Ordinary Members who are interested in promoting the Club may become an Extraordinary Member. This includes people that hold a licence but are also Members of another club.
      12.3.3 Junior Member – any person under the age of 18 years may become a Junior Member. Junior Members shall have no voting rights nor be entitled to hold any office.
      12.3.4 Life Member – any Member may nominate a person to the Committee for consideration for Life Membership. The Committee will determine if a nominee should be granted Life Membership based on criteria set out in the Club’s by-laws.

Proposed news rules

12.2 The annual membership fee for all classes of membership shall be determined by the Committee. All members must pay their membership fees on joining or after that on the designated due date to maintain membership.

12.3 Membership of the Club shall consist of the following —
      12.3.1 Ordinary Member – any person that
            (a) holds an approved membership under one of the peak cycling bodies for Western Australia as designated in the Club’s by-laws; and
            (b) has nominated the Club as their primary club for the purposes of that membership.
      12.3.2 Extraordinary Member – any persons other than Ordinary Members who are interested in promoting the Club may become an Extraordinary Member. This includes people that hold an approved membership under 12.3.1(a) but are otherwise not eligible to be an Ordinary Member of the Club.
      12.3.3 Junior Member – any person under the age of 18 years may become a Junior Member. Junior Members shall have no voting rights nor be entitled to hold any office.
      12.3.4 Life Member – any Member may nominate a person to the Committee for consideration for Life Membership. The Committee will determine if a nominee should be granted Life Membership based on criteria set out in the Club’s by-laws.
            12.3.4.1 Life Membership does not preclude a member from also being an Ordinary Member.

Proposed by-law

2 Recognised peak cycling bodies for Western Australia (rule 12.3.1)
2.1 Pursuant to rule 12.3.1 (a) the Club designates ‘recognised peak cycling bodies for Western Australia’, for the purposes of Club membership.
2.2 The intent of this designation is to ensure that members are;
            a) provided with membership options that best suit their likely participation level;
            b) are insured to the satisfaction of the Committee; and
            c) are able to claim Ordinary Membership of the Club consistent with rule 12.3 of the Constitution.
2.3 Designated recognised peak cycling bodies and associated memberships for Western Australia are;
      2.3.1 AusCycling Limited
            a) Lifestyle or Race memberships, or equivalent, that includes at least Third Party Public Liability Insurance.
      2.3.2 WESTCYCLE Incorporated
            a) Ride Membership, or equivalent, that includes at least Third Party Public Liability Insurance.
2.4 In rule 12.3.1 (b) the term ‘primary club’ means that a member has selected South Perth Cycle Club Inc. as their first club when establishing or renewing their membership with one of the recognised peak cycling bodies as identified in section 2.3 of this by-law. It demonstrates an intention by the member to associate themselves first and foremost with the South Perth Cycle Club Inc. in cycling related matters.